A Quick Reference Guide to

TEXAS

4200 Smith School Road Austin, Texas 78744

PWD BK W7000-0305 (5/00) Hummingbirds A Quick Reference Guide to 13 TEXAS Hummingbirds

To order the Hummingbird Wheel, send $11.95 to: Texas Hummingbird Roundup 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. A Quick Reference Guide to 1 12 A Quick Reference Guide to TEXAS Hummingbirds TEXAS Hummingbirds

References INTRODUCTION

Bryan, Kelly, Tony Gallucci, Greg Lasley, Mark Lockwood, and David H. Riskind. 1995.A Checklist of Texas Birds . Austin: Texas Parks and Hummingbirds are some of our most territorial, charismatic, and Wildlife Press. entertaining of all Texas birds. They are, however, also some of the most difficult Gill, Frank B. 1990.Ornithology . New York: W. H. Freeman and Company. birds to identify in the field. In recognition of the subtle morphological differences that separate our eighteen species of Texas hummingbirds, this guide was Johnsgard, P.A. 1983.Hummingbirds of North America . Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. developed to aid in the formidable task of calling these beautiful, tenacious animals by their proper name. One problem that amateur birders often have with Peterson, Roger Tory. 1973.A Field Guide to Mexican Birds. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. conventional field guides is that they list too many characteristics, many of which are shared by other species. As a result, quick, simple, identification is often Texas Ornithological Society. 1995.Checklist of the Birds of Texas , third impeded by the volume of information provided for each species in the typical field edition. Austin: Capital Printing, Inc. guide. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 1995. Texas Ten Most Common Hummingbird Species and Where They Are Known to Occur. This reference guide is not intended to be a comprehensive listing of the PWD LF W7100-253 (1/95). distinguishing traits of each species. Rather, this guide should be used as an aid to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. 1994-96. Unpublished data. Texas quickly identify a hummingbird species based on one or two simple Hummingbird Roundup. characteristics–if and only if those characteristics happen to be readily observable Tyrrell, Esther Q., and Robert A. Tyrrell. 1985.Hummingbirds . New York: during a particular sighting. It should also be noted that some of the listed Crown. characteristics apply only to theadult male of the species. As an example, one can Welty, J. C. and Luis Baptista. 1988.The Life of Birds . New York: Saunders. make a safe identification of an Anna’s by noting red coloration on the crown of the hummingbird’s head. However, notall Anna’s have this trait (e.g., immatures and females). In addition, identification near the Mexican border and near the Credits Texas Gulf Coast can be potentially erroneous due to the slight possibility of stray Text: Jereme Phillips Mexican or other migrant species. More conventional, comprehensive field guides Layout: TPW Information Services Section Cover Art: TPW Graphics should also be consulted when the characteristics listed in this publication are not Printing: TPW Print Shop noted in the field. The eighteen species of hummingbirds described in this guide Special thanks to Noreen Damude, Greg Lasley, Madge Lindsay, have records accepted by the Texas Ornithological Society’s Texas Bird Records Christina McCain, Cliff Shackelford, and Marisol Timm for their assistance. Committee. A Quick Reference Guide to 2 A Quick Reference Guide to 11 TEXAS Hummingbirds TEXAS Hummingbirds

Field Identification Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Fund

In 1983, the Texas Legislature created the Special Nongame and Endangered Common* Hummingbirds with Dark Bill (10 species): Species Conservation Fund. The Fund supports research, management, habitat acquisition, and dissemination of information pertaining to nongame and 1.Rufous –only hummingbird with arufous (rusty, reddish-brown) back endangered wildlife in Texas. To contribute to nongame and endangered wildlife conservation efforts, send your donation to: Wildlife Diversity Program, Texas 2.Blue-throated –only adult male hummingbird withwhite on tips of retrices Parks and Wildlife, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. (tail feathers); largest hummingbird in N. America

3.Anna’s –only hummingbird withred on crown of head

4.Lucifer– only hummingbird withdecurved (arcs downward) bill

5.Black-chinned –only hummingbird with black chin and purple band beneath

6.Ruby-throated –only hummingbirdcommon in the eastern half of Texas and the entire eastern United States; red gorget; notched tail

7.Broad-tailed –separated from Ruby-throated by its primarilywestern range, rounded(rather than forked) tail , and loud buzzing of wings in flight

8.Calliope –only hummingbird with Texas Hummingbird Roundup distinctly streaked throat The Texas Hummingbird Roundup is a backyard survey which encourages Texans 9.Allen’s–combination of rufous tail, to get actively involved in the conservation of hummingbirds. Participants receive a green back, and dark bill; difficult to survey form, range map, and native wildflower seeds to attract hummingbirds. A safely separate from immature newsletter and decal are also sent to participants who return their completed Rufous surveys at the end of the year.

10.Magnificent –green throat and The Hummingbird Wheel is a full-color, 10-inch identification wheel that depicts purple crown; also called Rivoli’s all sixteen species of hummingbirds that breed in the United States. This reference Hummingbird provides beautiful artwork, characteristics, and the range of each species. To participate in the Texas Hummingbird Roundup and receive the Hummingbird * or locally common Wheel, send $17.95 ($6 for Roundup only) to: Texas Hummingbird Roundup, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, Texas 78744. 10 A Quick Reference Guide to A Quick Reference Guide to 3 TEXAS Hummingbirds TEXAS Hummingbirds

Allen’s Hummingbirds with Red/Orange Bill (4 Species): Selasphorus sasin 1.Buff-bellied –red/orange bill, cinnamon buff belly, rusty forked tail, typically County Record found inSouth Texas , north to Nueces River

Jeff Davis 2.Broad-billed –red/orange bill,blue-green chin and throat Bexar Harris 3.White-eared –red/orange bill,rare; only hummingbird with acombination of Brazoria long white stripe behind eye, red bill, and violet crown 4.Violet-crowned –red/orange bill,very rare, violet crownand white throat Other Extremely Rare Hummingbirds (4 Species): Broad-billed 1.Green-breasted Mango –greenmalar (below the eye) stripe; 6 records in Cynanthus latirostris Texas County Record 2.Costa’s –violet head and gorget; 6 records in Texas El Paso San Patricio Hudspeth Victoria 3.Green Violet-ear –overall green appearance withviolet ear patch; 23 records Jeff Davis Colorado in Texas Brewster Bexar Midland Harris 4.Berylline –brilliant green head with mostly purple tail; considered accidental; Irion Jefferson Val Verde Bosque 3 records in Texas Hidalgo Llano Brooks Iridescence

Nearly every beginning birder has been dazzled and intrigued upon first sight of an adult male hummingbird’sgorget (throat region). The brilliant, laser-like colors that burst from the feathers of this region can, however, be a source of confusion for hummingbird identification. Theseiridescent colors are observed when some wavelengths of light are interfered with and others are reinforced by layers of hollow platelets located near the surface of the feather. If the gorget is viewed in insufficient light, or viewed at the improper angle, however, then the iridescence (which is diagnostic for many hummingbird species) is absent and the throat region appears to be black. As a result, positive identification of many species (e.g., Black-chinned, Ruby-throated) should be reserved until the associated iridescent color is observed. The observer often must be positioned between the sun and the bird in order to note this phenomenon. 4 A Quick Reference Guide to A Quick Reference Guide to 9 TEXAS Hummingbirds TEXAS Hummingbirds

range maps White-eared Hylocharis leucotis

County Record Each hummingbird species range map was derived from one of two sources, depending upon whether or not the species is considered locally El Paso common or rare in Texas. For locally common species, the maps Culbertson Jeff Davis represent minor revisions to a Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Brewster publication, Texas Ten Most Common Hummingbird Species and Where Starr They Are Known to Occur (PWD LF W7100-253). The revisions are based upon Texas Hummingbird Roundup data and these maps represent our best estimates of the range of each species. For rare species, the maps Costa’s indicate locations of records accepted by the Texas Ornithological Society’s Calypte costae Texas Bird Records Committee. County Record

El Paso Breeds in Texas Rare Winter Visitor Hays Migration Route Isolated Record(s) Kleberg

Buff-bellied Berylline Amazilia yucatanensis Amazilia beryllina

More numerous in the County Record Lower Rio Grande Valley. A few inland records in Brewster central Texas.

Rare Winter Visitor

Summer - Breeds in LRGV, Fall/Winter rarely up to Corpus Christi. 8 A Quick Reference Guide to A Quick Reference Guide to 5 TEXAS Hummingbirds TEXAS Hummingbirds

Green-breasted Mango Blue-throated Anthracothorax prevostii Lampornis clemenciae

County Record Found mainly in Southwestern mountains Nueces of the U.S. Brooks Hidalgo Locally common in the Cameron mountains at Big Bend. Spring and Summer Very rare in Davis Mountains

Violet-crowned Magnificent Amazilia violiceps Eugenes fulgens

County Record Typically found in SE Arizona and SW New Mexico. El Paso When found in Texas, it is isolated to certain places in the Trans Pecos Mts.

Breeds in Big Bend/Davis Mountains

Green Violet-ear Lucifer Colibri thalassinus Calothorax lucifer

County Record Primarily a Mexican species. Enters the U.S. in the Big Bend Region and Bandera Nueces parts of SW New Mexico and SE Arizona. Fairly common in the Big Bexar Hidalgo Occasional Bend. Hays Cameron Travis Brazoria Fall wanderers have been reported in Single record Bastrop Montgomery the Texas Hill Country & Rockport. San Patricio Coleman Breeds in Big Bend. 6 A Quick Reference Guide to A Quick Reference Guide to 7 TEXAS Hummingbirds TEXAS Hummingbirds

Ruby-throated Anna’s Archilochus colubris Calypte anna Should be watched for in the fall Relatively common in and winter. Fairly rare & eastern half of Texas - irregular migrant and winter occurs in large numbers resident. During some winter at East Texas feeders. seasons as many as 20 or more Could show up farther Anna's may be reported from El west. Paso to Beaumont. Fairly regular migrant in Trans- Late March through Sept. Pecos.

Black-chinned Calliope Archilochus alexandri Stellula calliope

Relatively common Fairly regular August spring and summer migrant in El Paso. resident in the western half of Texas. May be seen in the Big Bend in August and Could be a rare winter September. Rare visitor to the coast. Rare in other locations.

Rufous Broad-tailed Selasphorus rufus Selasphorus platycercus

Regularly seen in the Common spring and Trans Pecos. fall migrant in West Regular Texas. migrant Breeds in the mountains. Some birds overwinter Occurs in small numbers on the coast and Rare winter in central Texas and the occasionally inland. visitor upper Texas Coast during migration.